Bucolic briefs

The Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale will be held Sept. 2-6 in the Holshouser Building at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The sale provides a venue for buying and selling a variety of horse items, riding equipment, saddles, tack and barn supplies for all disciplines and levels of riding experience. Items can be dropped off Aug. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. or Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Volunteers can shop Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., consignors can shop from 1-9 p.m. and the public sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Cost for the public is $7 on Sept. 2, but free on all other days. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 3-5 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 6. Unsold items must be picked up Sept. 7 from 1-8 p.m. For more, contact Lynn Beeson, (336) 697-1097 or 362-6248 or Tanya Wright, (540) 977-1950.

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The Johnston County Horse Show Series has announced its 2010 schedule, which is open to riders and horses from all riding levels, breeds and disciplines. All events will be held at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield. Following are upcoming dates and start times: Sept. 4, Oct. 2. All shows start at 8:30 a.m. Rain dates for all events will be the following day. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin at (919) 934-1344, by e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net or go to www.ipass.net/blaine_mclaughlin.

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An open horse show will be held Sept. 18 at Biggerstaff Park in Dallas. For more, call Bev Couto at (704) 820-6490 or e-mail at bevcouto@bellsouth.net.

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B&M Stables in Four Oaks will offer a series of half-day horsemanship clinics with horse trainer Blaine McLaughlin. Following are clinic dates: Sept. 25, Oct. 23 and Nov. 20. Classes run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and cost $75. Classes are limited to five riders. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin, (919) 934-1344 or by e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net.

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The 25th Anniversary of WNC Fall Harvest Days Antique Engine and Tractor Show will be held Oct. 21-23 at the Western N.C. Agricultural Center in Fletcher. This event, presented by the Apple Country Engine and Tractor Association, features antique tractors, hit-n-miss engines of all sizes, tractor pulls and more than 250 vendors and exhibitors. Following is the schedule for pulls: Friday, 5 p.m., stock and modified garden tractors; Saturday, 10 a.m., farm tractors 1964 and earlier; Saturday, noon, kiddie pulls. Admission is $8 a day of $20 for a three-day pass. Kids under 12 free with paid adult. For more, go to www.applecountry.org or contact Larry Phillips at larryp66@yahoo.com.

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The Southeast Strawberry Expo will be held Nov. 8-10 at the Wyndham Hotel in Virginia Beach, Va. Workshops and a farm tour will take place on Nov. 8. Educational sessions and a trade show will be held Nov. 9 and 10. For more information, go to www.ncstrawberry.com or contact the N.C. Strawberry Association at (919) 542-4037 or by e-mail at info@ncstrawberry.com.

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The North Carolina chapter of Re-Run, a non-profit organization that places ex-racehorses into adoptive homes, now has thoroughbred racehorses available for adoption. Thoroughbreds are versatile and do well in any number of disciplines including shows, events, fox hunting or pleasure riding, according to Elizabeth Macdonald with Re-Run. For more, go to www.rerun.org or contact Elizabeth Macdonald at hemacd@mindspring.com.

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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veterinary Division is looking for small or large backyard or independent poultry flocks to test for avian influenza throughout the state. A minimum of 10 birds per flock would be tested by oral swabs four times each year at no cost to the owner. This program is to maintain surveillance for bird flu in North Carolina. Bird owners with questions or who want to be sure their flock is free of bird flu, can contact Dr. Sarah Mason or Jimmy Collie at (919) 733-7601.